Flying Gurnard in Cozumel

A drab, armoured, bottom-walking fish until it spreads enormous translucent pectoral fins marked with brilliant blue spots and lines — then it is one of the most striking animals on the reef.

Quick ID

Where You Will See It In Cozumel

Flying Gurnard works the 9 to 82 foot band. On this island that means the sheltered west-coast reefs, and the shallow east-side entries when the sea is flat — these are the sites where the depth and the habitat line up for it.

Without a boat. It is worth looking for at Money Bar, Playa Corona and Punta Morena — all shore entries, so you dive them on your own schedule.

On an ordinary beginner boat dive. It should be within reach at Columbia Shallows, El Cielo, La Francesa, Las Palmas and Molas Shallow. No advanced certification needed.

Deeper, and on the walls. It is also plausible on Tormentos, Villa Blanca Wall, Barracuda Reef and C-53 Wreck.

Conditions change the odds more than the site does — the current, the time of day and how much the group has already stirred up the sand. Ask your guide what they have been seeing that week.

Behaviour

Walks the sand on stiffened pelvic fins hunting small invertebrates, and opens its wings as a startle display when approached. It does not fly and does not swim well.

Commonly Confused With

• Sea robin — Sea robins are smaller with separate free fin rays and no blue-spotted wings.
• Peacock flounder — Flounders lie flat with both eyes on one side.

Diving Etiquette And Safety

Approach slowly and low. Chasing one to force the wing display is harassment and it stops feeding.

Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip

Photo: A. H. Baldwin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.